STUART - Many of the streets, bodies of water, schools, buildings and parks in Martin County are named for local residents. These names are probably very familiar to anyone who has lived in the area for some time or has traveled its many streets and byways. Refer to a map of Martin County, or perhaps an online map service, for the exact locations.

Adams Park (Stuart): Francis Adams, born May 11, 1874, was a well-known, patriotic citizen of Stuart for many years. The city park at Confusion Corner was dedicated to Captain Adams for his exercise of good government, it being the gateway to downtown Stuart. The flagpole at City Hall was also dedicated in his honor. Francis A. Adams died Sept. 24, 1975, at age 101.

Anderson Middle School (Stuart): Dr. David Anderson was an educator and Martin County School Board member for many years.

Armellini Avenue (Palm City): Julio Albert Armellini, born Jan. 5, 1923, in New Jersey, established a trucking-transport company there in the 1940s, moving the firm to Stuart in 1978. He died Aug. 15, 2013.

Bessey Creek / Bessey Creek Trail (Palm City): Hubert Bessey, the first permanent homesteaded resident of Potsdam (Stuart) and wife, Susan, were important members of the community in its early years. Bessey had been keeper of the House of Refuge at Gilbert's Bar, a boat builder and the couple operated the Danforth Hotel in Stuart. Susan was a president of Stuart Woman's Club, a member of Stuart Garden Club and the Presbyterian Church. Hubert Wilbur Bessey, born Dec. 17, 1855, in Westfield, Ohio, died Sept. 17, 1918 in Battle Creek, Mich. Susan Corbin Bessey was born July 25, 1868 in Marion, Ala., and died Nov. 8, 1954 in Stuart.

Bessey Point (Stuart): Named for Hubert and Willis Bessey who together as brothers first settled on the South Fork of the St. Lucie River about 1882.

Britt Road / Britt Court / Britt Terrace (Stuart): Thomas Jefferson Britt was born in April 1865 in Florida. He and wife, Elizabeth G,. lived in Stuart in its ‘pioneer' days and at one time, Britt was a bridgetender. In the 1920s and ‘30s he had a home and fruit grove on what was called Britt Road. Thomas Britt died in June 1939 in Martin County.

Bruner Plaza / Bruner Terrace / Bruner Pond Park (Stuart / Palm City): James Herbert Bruner and family, as prominent citizens of Martin County, have made many contributions to the area. James, who came to Stuart in 1925, was an influential civic leader, politician, businessman and developer, responsible for many buildings, stores and improvements in the community. He was born Jan. 29, 1919 in Lovedale, Fla., and died March 20, 1999 in Stuart.

Bryant Avenue (Stuart): Dr. Joseph D. Bryant was Grover Cleveland's physician and accompanied the former U.S. president on vacation trips to Stuart.

Buck Hendry Way (Stuart): Named for A. A. ‘Buck' Hendry, a successful businessman, born in 1903 in Fort Pierce. As a young man, he established the Hendry Trading Center in Jensen and eventually co-founded Tri-County Gas being involved in other business developments and civic organizations. He died in January 1990.

Butler Avenue (Palm City): On Aug. 10, 1910, Charles C. Chillingworth, a West Palm Beach lawyer, made a bold real estate purchase of 12,133.06 acres of the George Beckwith property in Palm City to develop the area. George O. Butler was a survey engineer who divided the land into 10-acre farm parcels to be called Palm City Farms and smaller town lots closer to the water that would be known as Palm City-on-the-St. Lucie River. Several street names were chosen for employees and officers of Chillingworth's Palm Beach Land Company.

Carl Metz Lane Carl J. Metz, born April 30, 1928 in West Virginia died November 5, 1987 in Martin County. The road in Palm City was named for Metz who was involved with the YMCA Easter House raffles, the street being where several of the homes were constructed.

Chapman Way (Palm City) - Named for the Chapman School of Seamenship and Maritime Arts, which opened in Palm City in January 1975, founded by Glen D. Castle and Charles Frederic Chapman.

Christie Way / Christie Avenue (Stuart) - Named for James Christie, a commissioner and mayor of Stuart whose family had lived in the area for decades.

Cleveland Avenue (Stuart) - Grover Cleveland often vacationed in Stuart, staying for weeks or months at a time at the Danforth Hotel in the early 1900s. Cleveland also owned property on Railroad (Flagler) Avenue in downtown Stuart, which was listed on Grover's estate when he died in 1908.

Collins Stadium (Stuart, MCHS) - Robert T. Collins was a physical education teacher and coach who died June 4, 2008. The athletic field at Martin County High School was dedicated in November, 2010 in his honor.

Conners Highway - William J. "Fingy" Conners was a builder and developer. The private toll highway extending from West Palm Beach to the east side of Lake Okeechobee and to Sebring was built in 1924, the grand opening being on July 4. There were a total of three toll booths along the route, each charging $1.50 per car and 50 cents per passenger; the tolls were suspended on June 10, 1930.

Cornell Avenue (Palm City) – In Charles C. Chillingworth's development of Palm City, 1910s, he named the street for the university from which he graduated in 1890.

Coventry Lane (Stuart) - The Coventrys, John, wife Charlotte, children Frank and Edith were well known in Stuart. Born in August 1857 in Scotland, John Coventry, wife & children arrived in Stuart in the 1910s where soon after in 1914, the Coventry Hotel was built on Seminole St. and eventually the Coventry Apts. He died in Stuart in 1938.

Danforth Creek / Danforth Circle (Palm City) - John S. Danforth used a houseboat as a floating hotel in Stuart in the 1890s, but it was vandalized and sunk to be eventually situated on land he owned in Palm City. With some modifications, it became the ‘Cabin' in which Helen Murphy, for whom Murphy Road is named, lived with son, Fred. John built a grand hotel, the Danforth, near Frazier Creek in 1900, where Grover Cleveland stayed during his many extended vacations in Stuart.

Decker Avenue / Decker Lane (Stuart) - Ira LeGrande Decker, born in Lake City, Michigan, March 10, 1883, arrived in Stuart in January 1925, establishing the Duntile Company, later joined in that business by son, Allan F. Ira died in July 1953.

Deggeller Court (Palm City) – Irvin V. Deggeller, born February 14, 1926, in Silverton, Oregon, prominent businessman, was a developer, owner of Deggeller Amusements and other enterprises. Deggeller and family came to Stuart in 1960. He died April 8, 2006 in Martin County.

Don Wallen Athletics Complex (Stuart, MCHS) - Don Wallen, born October 18, 1935, was an outstanding Martin County High School basketball coach for 32 years and a principal at Stuart Middle School. He died in August 1999.

Dunscombe Avenue (Stuart) - Carroll and Janet (Krueger) Dunscombe were early pioneers and land owners. Carroll was born October 27, 1889 in New Jersey and arrived in Stuart in 1907, acquiring acreage for the cultivation of pineapples. He also studied law and by the '30s was a prominent practicing attorney. Janet, was born January 21, 1894 in Potsdam (Stuart) being the first female to survive to adulthood; she married Dunscombe June 30, 1914 and was active in the Woman's Club. Janet died October 27, 1976, Carroll having passed away January 5th of that year.

Dyer Drive / Dyer Point (Stuart / Sea Gate Harbor) – Daniel Harry and wife, Flora (Frazier) Dyer were early pioneers and merchants in Stuart. Harry, born September 1, 1872 in Canada, came to the area in 1892. Having met and married Flora in Stuart, the couple opened Dyer Dry Goods in 1914. The Dyers and children were prominent members of the community. Harry died August 19, 1934.

Ernie Lyons Bridge / Lyons Street (St. Lucie River, Stuart) - Ernie Lyons, a resident of Stuart for decades, was a newspaper reporter, editor, author and environmentalist. He died in April 1990.

Evans Crary Bridge (Stuart) - Named for Evans Crary Sr., prominent attorney, state legislator. Crary was born in 1905 and died in 1968.

Felix Williams Elementary School (Jensen Beach) - Named for Felix Williams, a highly respected Martin County educator. He died in July 1993.

Feroe Avenue (Palm City) - Named for Henry C. Feroe, born in October 1872, a Stuart pioneer, businessman and an owner of the St Lucie Hotel He died June 27, 1943.

Feroe Building (Stuart, St. Lucie & Flagler Avenues) - In 1913, Henry Feroe contracted Sam Matthews to construct the building at the intersection of what was the town center for activity, the train station being directly across the street. Frank Frazier made the ‘faux stone' concrete blocks which form the outer walls of the building. Stuart Drug Store was one of the first occupants in 1913, operated by D. E. Wynne. The Stuart Post Office was also located in the building in 1916.

Flagler Avenue (Stuart) - Although Henry Flagler never lived in Martin County, he certainly influenced the area with the building of a railroad through Stuart's early business district.

Flora Belle Lane (Stuart) - Named for the two daughters of Reuben and Margaret Frazier, Flora and Meda Belle. The street in Stuart, Colorado Avenue, was at one time called Belle Flora, also named for the Frazier girls.

Frank Wacha Bridge (Jensen Beach, Indian River) – Named in 1965, for Frank A. Wacha Sr., a Martin County Commissioner, born November 19, 1923; he died December 15, 1999.

Frazier Creek / Frazier Court (Stuart) - Reuben Russell Frazier and family settled in Stuart in 1887, building a home on what would be Avenue C (Akron), overlooking the creek; the couple grew pineapples on 160 acres of homesteaded property. Russell died in 1905, but wife, Margaret and children; Meda Belle, Frank and Flora were very productive members of the community.

Fuge Road (Stuart) - Named for Edward Alfred Fuge, born in 1865 in England, who came to Stuart in 1915, invested in property and was responsible for having constructed the Fuge (Osceola) Building in 1921. Involved in other investments, he also operated a Chevrolet agency with son Percy in later years. Edward died in February 1942.

Gaines Bridge / Avenue / Highway (Stuart) - Spanning a branch of the South Fork of the St. Lucie River as part of the Gaines Highway (Kanner Hwy), the concrete bridge was built in 1923 and named for Henry Newton Gaines, a county commissioner serving the Stuart area in the early 1920s. The structure, also known as ‘Humpback Bridge' is no longer used for vehicles, only pedestrians. Henry N. Gaines was a very dedicated citizen for the welfare of Martin County. He died in July 1928.

Gilson Road (Palm City) - Clair Gilson, inventor of the circular slide rule, which was considered to be more accurate than the traditional straight rule, lived on the road which bears his name. Gilson operated a small, but very successful manufacturing plant in Martin County which produced and shipped the precision instruments to laboratories, businesses and banks around the world. He died in May 1962.

Grumman Blvd (Stuart) - Named for Grumman Aircraft, a division of which was located at Witham Field in Stuart. The company was founded on December 6, 1929, by Leroy R. Grumman and five partners, opening its doors January 2, 1930, in an abandoned auto showroom garage, in Baldwin, N.Y., with 16 employees. Leroy died October 4, 1982 at the age of 87.

Guy Davis Field (Stuart) – A ball park in East Stuart, named for Guy J. Davis who promoted athletics for the young people of East Stuart. He was born June 5, 1884, in Alabama and died in June, 1969, in Stuart.

Hancock Street (Stuart) - Named for the Judge J. C. (John) Hancock family, early pioneers in Stuart, who, over a period of time, owned and operated three different Lyric Theatres in town.

Haney Circle (Stuart) - Cynthia Burnette Haney, born May 1, 1840 in Ohio, was a renowned women's rights advocate and newspaper columnist. She died in Stuart in July 1932 at age 93.

Haney Creek (Stuart) - Born in April 1835 in New Hampshire, Dr. Horace John Haney was a medical doctor who settled in the area in the 1890s. Haney acquired 160 acres to homestead on January 21, 1897 in District 10, known as Eden and he, with son Carl, grew pineapples on the land. Horace, a widower, met and married Cynthia S. Burnette in 1897, but divorced in 1903, whereafter Cynthia moved to Stuart, across the St. Lucie River.

Hobe Sound – The name is derived from the Jove or Jobe Indians, inhabitants of the region who aided Jonathan Dickinson when shipwrecked in 1696. The area was named by the Spanish by about 1699, who pronounced the name Jove as Ho-bay, which was anglicized to Hobe.

Hosford Park (Stuart, South Fork St. Lucie River) - In 1934, Ed L. Hosford, born in 1872, a local pioneer and horticulturist, donated five acres of land for the park which bears his name. He died in February 1962.

Hospital Pond / Lake Janet - (Stuart, East Ocean Blvd.) - The small body of water was originally named Lake Janet, probably for Janet (Krueger) Dunscombe, who with husband, Carroll, owned the property. The name was changed to Hospital Pond as the lake was located near Stuart's first hospital (St. Lucie Sanitarium).

Hudson Court (Stuart) - Named for Dennis S. Hudson Sr., banking executive and civic leader who died January 16, 1969. Citizens Bank of Stuart, which would become 1st National and eventually Seacoast, began with Hudson as cashier and one employee, located in downtown Stuart in 1933.

Hutchinson Island James Hutchinson, born in Georgia, was a Spanish Land Grantee, who on August 23, 1803, received from the Spanish Governor of East Florida, Enrique White, 2,000 acres of mainland property on the Indian River; Hutchinson would eventually settle on the bestowed land. However, having to endure problems with Indians, he requested that the grant be changed to the barrier island, which was granted April 13, 1807, to be proclaimed and known as Hutchinson's Island. The family moved there, but then faced problems with passing ships and pirates; in September 1808, James visited Governor White in St. Augustine to discuss the situation. Returning by ship, he was tragically drowned in a violent storm. The family thereafter returned to Georgia, retaining ownership of the barrier island. The US acquired Florida from Spain years later and the Hutchinson land grant was acknowledged by Congress in 1827, a survey completed June 14, 1845. A descendant, Edward B. 'Ned' Hutchinson had made a permanent home in the remote wilderness of Hutchinson Island by 1900, where he had a bean farm.

Ila St. (Stuart) - Lawrence Dorsey and Roy L. Alford purchased the Acme Lumber Co. holdings on the Dixie Highway and Pinewood Street in Stuart in the 1920s, doing business under the name Casa Lumber, with Alford as manager of the firm. Dorsey who was involved in the platting and development of the Casa Terrace subdivision, named one of the streets Ila, for the young daughter of Alford, who, with Dorsey, lived in the subdivision.

Jack James Drive (Stuart) - James, born January 19, 1909 in Alabama, came to Martin County in 1952; he was a businessman and rancher. Known as the 'Flying Cowboy' he wrote a column for the Stuart News, ‘Tale Twisting‘ for many years. He died in September 1990.

Jeannette Drive (Jensen) - Named for Jeannette Rhodes whose father, Sam, was a builder in the area.

Jensen - John Laurence Jensen, was born July 2, 1857 in Denmark. He came to America in 1881 and eventually to the Indian River region by 1883. John settled a few miles south of Thomas Richard's 'Eden' on the western shore of the Indian River and staked a claim for 138.72 acres of land to grow pineapples, the homestead patent received by November 1888. He sold parcels of the land to other settlers and by 1890, a post office was granted, with John Sorensen, Jensen's brother-in-law, as postmaster from March 12 to April 17. The name was thereafter changed to Jensen Post Office, in honor of John Jensen who had first settled the area, but Sorensen remained postmaster until 1895. However, on May 10, 1894, with the land having been surveyed, what would be the main business district came into being. The subdivided area was situated between the Florida East Coast Railway right-of-way which Jensen had sold to Henry Flagler and the shores of the Indian River. The roads in the village of Jensen were the east-west Main, North, South and Market Streets with Maple and Aston Streets intersecting in a north-south direction. John L. Jensen died November 1, 1914 in North Carolina.

Joan Jefferson Way (Stuart) – The road, originally called 2nd Street, was named to honor City Commissioner and Mayor, Joan Jefferson, who was involved in 'renewing' the downtown section of Stuart in the 1980s.

Johnson Avenue (Stuart) - Robert 'R. V.' Johnson, a respected businessman, owned and operated a successful insurance and real estate firm in Stuart. He died March 18, 1992.

Kanner Highway / Stuart-Annie Road (Stuart) - The highway known as SR 76 was originally not much more than a dirt trail, named Stuart-Annie Road for the wife of Francis M. Platt, an early settler and rancher in Indiantown. Stuart-Annie Road was later named the Gaines Highway, Indiantown Road and most recently for A. O. Kanner, a highly respected judge. Kanner was born November 2, 1893 in Sanford, Florida and came to Stuart in 1925. He died April 13, 1967, in Martin County.

Kindred Street (Stuart) - Named for grocer, Henry A. Kindred, a successful businessman who owned and operated a grocery store located on that street. He died in May 1969 in Stuart.

Kiplinger Park (Stuart, Kanner Hwy) - Named for Willard M. Kiplinger of Kiplinger's News Letter, Washington, D. C. who was a financial contributor to many projects in the area, including the Woman's Club, Martin County Library and the House of Refuge.

Kitching Avenue / Kitching Circle / Kitching Creek (Stuart / Hobe Sound) – The Kitchings represented a large family, many of whom would eventually live in Stuart. The businessmen, Broster (1838-1915), Walter (1846-1932), Sylvanus (1848-1927), Stanley (1974-1961), Cleveland (1886-1958), Reginald (1892-1975) and other Kitching family members, which included the women, were prominent citizens of the community. Walter owned what could be considered the first permanent individual general store in town.

Krueger Creek / Bridge / Parkway (Stuart) - Named for Albert Randolph Krueger and family, early pioneers in Stuart from the 1880s, businessmen and agricultural growers.

Lamar Howard Memorial Park (Golden Gate, Port Salerno) - Named for Lamar Dowling Howard, who was born June 28, 1931 and died June 25, 1972. Howard had organized the Golden Gate Association, being its first director, in an effort to locate a park at Fairmont and Ellendale Avenues in Port Salerno, which eventually was built on a two acre parcel. Tragically, however, Lamar would be killed in a motorcycle accident. Recognized by the Association and County, for innumerable contributions to the area, the park was named for Lamar and dedicated, April 27, 1974.

Langford Park / Langford Lane (Jensen Beach) - Named for entertainer, Frances Langford, who with husband, Jon Hall, gifted the land for the park, providing a large recreation area for the entire county. Frances Langford died July 11, 2005.

Leighton Recreational Park (Palm City) - Named for Charles Leighton, a businessman and county commissioner. He died in 1980, at age 66.

Leighton Park (Palm City) - John ‘Jock' Stewart Leighton was a prominent Stuart and Palm City businessman. A native of Pittsburgh, John moved with family to the area before the age of 1. Leighton died January 27, 1998; he was 77 years old.

Long (Football) Field (Stuart) - Although the athletic field no longer exists, it was located on the 4th St campus of Stuart High (MCHS), named for Clifton W. ‘Possum' Long, a school agriculture teacher. The last game was played on the field in the 1970s.

Long Nature Center (Stuart) - Named for Clifton W. ‘Possum' Long, who was a Martin County Vocational Agriculture teacher. Clifton died August 6, 1961.

Lonita Street. (Stuart) - Named for Lonita Dorsey whose father, Lawrence, was involved in the 1920s development and platting of the Casa Terrace subdivision, where the street is located.

Luckhardt Street. - (Stuart) - Born October 11, 1921 in Michigan, Roy E. ‘Lucky' Luckhardt moved to Stuart in the 1940s and soon after began a soil/rock hauling business which expanded into a construction & road paving company to be located on S. Flagler Avenue in 1955. In the '60s, Lucky purchased an 11-acre parcel of land off U.S. 1 in Stuart on the road which now bears the family name and by the 1970s had opened a flea market & outdoor storage facility on this property, selling the Flagler Avenue parcel to the City in '75. He died September 27, 1984, but the Luckhardt family continued to operate the business until 2000, when the land was cleared and sold.

Martin L. King (Stuart) – Named in honor of the civil rights leader.

Matheson Blvd. / Avenue. - (Palm City) - William 'Bill' Matheson, born June 23, 1912, a businessman and rancher, was a Miami native who came to Palm City in the 1940s, establishing Matheson Ranch and Matheson Dairy. He died in March 1978.

Mapp Road (Palm City) - Named for Edward Mapp, an area pioneer, he served as school superintendent in the 1920s and 1930s and was later a realtor. He died in April 1969.

McDonald Lane (Stuart) - Jackson Beauregard 'J. B.' McDonald, arrived in Stuart with family in 1912. A businessman, he was elected the first mayor for the incorporated city of Stuart on May 7, 1914. He died in 1948.

McPherson Street (Stuart) - Named for the Robert and Charles W. McPherson families, early pioneers of Stuart. Robert and family came to Stuart in 1891; Charles arrived in August 1897.

Menninger Park (Stuart, East Ocean Blvd.) - Edward Menninger, Sr., born March 18, 1896, in Kansas, was a prominent businessman and editor who at one time owned Stuart's newspaper. He was also a noted expert on flowering trees and wrote books on this subject. He died February 17, 1995 at age 98.

Moore's Cemetery (Stuart, Monterey Road) - Opened in 1925, the 2-acre parcel of land had been purchased by Walter G. Moore, Phillip Perkins and William Simpo to be used as a cemetery for the black citizens of Stuart. It is also known as Monterey Cemetery.

Mulford Lane / Mulford Street (Port Salerno) - Benjamin W. Mulford, a real estate broker, born February 13, 1868, in New Jersey, is generally credited with being the developer of Salerno in the 1910s. He died August 25, 1926 in West Palm Beach.

Murphy Road (Palm City) - Named for Helen R. Murphy, an early pioneer of Palm City.

Murray School / Murray Street (Salerno) - Robert G. Murray, born January 29, 1888 in Florida, died in August 1968. He was a member of a family of educators in Martin County for whom the school is named.

Osceola Street (Stuart) - In Stuart's pioneer days, it was not unusual for Seminole Indians to trade at local businesses. Osceola (1804-1838) was a renowned Florida Seminole warrior and adviser to the tribe's Chief Micanopy. Owens Avenue (Indiantown) - William E. Owens, born October 27, 1925, in West Palm, was a prominent businessman, owning and operating Owens Grove for over fifty years. He was also a Martin County commissioner, state legislator and civic leader. Bill Owens died April 11, 1998 in Palm City.

Parker Elementary (Stuart) - J. D. Parker Elementary School, built and dedicated in 1961, for one of the first doctors in Stuart, a kind and gentle man admired by all the community. Julian David Parker was born November 23, 1895 in Georgia and moved to Stuart soon after completing medical schooling in 1924. He was responsible for the delivery of thousands of babies in Martin County. Julian. Parker died in Stuart in 1987 at age 91.

Peck's Lake Samuel Hopkins Peck, born December 14, 1798, in Connecticut, eventually settled in Augusta, Georgia. However, in April 1843, he was leader of the Indian River Colony, a group that had inhabited the area between Sebastian and Jupiter, Florida. Samuel, with four sons, homesteaded acreage north of the Jupiter Narrows. He worked with other settlers in 1844 to open up an ocean inlet into the Indian River leading to the St. Lucie. Peck in the schooner, Myrtis, was the first to sail through the new inlet. A year later, Samuel lost a larger vessel, William Washington, which he had used to generate income as a cargo and passenger service. Soon after, Peck turned over the homesteaded land to Mills Burnham and returned to Georgia. He died September 12, 1862, in Louisiana. From the North to the South Jupiter Narrows, the body of water, Peck's Lake, located between the mainland and the barrier island was named for Samuel H. Peck.

Pendarvis Cove Park / Pendarvis Court (Palm City, Chapman Way) - Named for Sam J. Pendarvis, born November 1, 1888 in Florida, a pioneer who settled on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River about 1908. He died August 6, 1968.

Pettway Residential Park / Pettway Street (Hobe Sound) - Gertrude Pettway was a notable Martin County educator. Many of the streets in Pettway Park are named for family members, including, Dennie Drive, Douglas Way, Rich Way, Lewis Way and Williams Drive.

Phipps Park (Stuart, Locks Road) The Phipps family had established public parks in Palm Beach and the New York area. Phipps Park on the St. Lucie Canal was made possible with a beneficial land trade involving Michael Phipps which resulted in the public recreation facility. Michael, born January 10, 1910, in England was also associated with the St. Lucie Training Track for thoroughbred horses on SR 76. He died March 13, 1973.

Pomeroy Street (Stuart) - Named for James Robb Pomeroy, born January 19, 1872 in Michigan, a very early Stuart pioneer, serving as a school principal, post master and county clerk. He died October 6, 1949.

Poppleton Creek (Stuart) - Col. Oscar Ogden Poppleton (1843-1917) came to Florida and then Stuart in 1886. He was an apiarist, bee expert, who became an authority of world wide fame on bee culture, publishing journals and research information on the subject.

Powers Park (Indiantown, Citrus Blvd.) - Timer Eugene Paul Powers, born August 9, 1936, was a businessman, owning Indiantown Gas Company, county commissioner for 12 years representing Indiantown and civic leader. He died May 21, 1992.

Pressel Building (Stuart, Flagler Avenue) - Lester A. Pressel was born in May 1887 in Detroit, Michigan. He was owner of a meat market in Detroit and moved to Stuart in the late 1930s. The one-story Pressel building with frontage on both Flagler Avenue and Osceola Street was constructed in 1940. Lester died in April 1960.

Reed Park (Hobe Sound, Athena Avenue) - Named for Joseph V. Reed of Jupiter Island, born in France in 1902. After years in New York theatre productions, he bought Jupiter Island and considerable property on the mainland of Hobe Sound and launched the Hobe Sound Company. He died in November 1973.

Reilly Avenue (Palm City) – Several of the street names in Palm City were chosen for employees and officers of Charles Chillingworth's Palm Beach Land Company, developers of the area in 1910. Patsy Reilly was an officer, Secretary, for the company and would eventually marry Frank McCord.

Ricou Terrace (Jensen Beach) - Named for Ransom Ren Ricou, born May 1, 1867, a pioneer businessman in Jensen and Stuart, arriving in the area in the 1890s. He established the largest wholesale fish company in the South, R. R. Ricou and Sons. He died January 7, 1925.

Roebuck Lane (Stuart) - Named for Robert Roy Roebuck, an attorney and developer of the Rob Roy Hotel, Restaurant and the Virginia Apartments on US 1 in the late 1920s. Tragically, he and wife, Rose, were killed March 24, 1943, when the couple's truck was struck by a train at the 'Confusion Corner' intersection in Stuart.

Ruhnke Street (Stuart) - Arthur Ruhnke, born February 8, 1912, was a businessman, city commissioner and photographer, owner of Ruhnke Photo Shop in Stuart. He died August 6, 1986.

Sandra Drive (Jensen) - Named for Sandra Elaine Rhodes whose father, Sam, was a builder in the area.

Sewall's Point / Henry Sewall Way / Port Sewall (Sewall's Point / Port Sewall) - Named for Henry E. Sewall, born August 22, 1848, a former ship captain, early area pioneer, settler and land developer. He died August 1, 1925.

Shepard Park (Stuart, Frazier Creek) - William H. Shepard died in October 1944 in Ohio, predeceased by wife, Lucy Anne (Doane) the previous year, May 1943. The couple's two daughters, Amy, Nellie and son, Clark, as owners of the estate, lived at the residence during the winter months. The City of Stuart purchased the property in October, 1951 from Amy Shepard Patterson for $42,500, which would become Shepard Park, where the Bessey-Perkins-Shepard home was once located. In 1971, a bequest by older daughter, Nellie Hawgood, of $5,000 to the City was to cover costs for a bronze plaque.

Stafford Drive (Stuart) - Named for Fred A. Stafford, born in 1899, a Stuart civic leader and Martin County civil engineer during the 1930s.

Stuart – Named for Homer Hine Stuart, Jr., born January 30, 1855 in New York. He would eventually own acreage north of the St. Lucie River and grow pineapples in the 1880s, marrying in 1889. In 1892, however, prior to the town being called Stuart, Otto Stypmann, a pioneer settler and postmaster for the area south of the river, had officially named the village Potsdam, for a town in Germany from where several of the residents had immigrated. When Henry Flagler's railroad was constructed, a small depot was built on property acquired from Homer in 1894. Conductors would often jokingly call out 'Dampots' instead of Potsdam as the train approached the station, which was upsetting to some citizens. Walter Kitching, offering land, negotiated with Flagler's representative, James Parrott, to move the little station south of the river and as was suggested by Homer's brother, Inglis, a friend of Parrott, change the name of the town to Stuart, giving Homer recognition, all of which was accepted by those concerned. Homer died March 13, 1923 in Pinellas Co., FL.

Stypmann Blvd. (Stuart) - Otto and brother, Ernest Stypmann, originally from Germany, were early settlers. Otto was postmaster for Potsdam / Stuart in the 1890s.

Sumner Street (Rio) - Named for Matson Adams Sumner who owned property between the river and Dixie Highway in Rio where the road is located. Sumner was born in February 1888 in NY and died in Martin County in July 1968.

Tiger Billy Terrace / Tiger Billy Court (Indiantown) - Named for Tiger Billy, one of the leaders of the Seminole Tribe and the famous Tiger Clan that lived in Indiantown.

Tilton Avenue (Jensen Beach) - Named for Warner B. 'Pop' Tilton, civic leader, politician, founder of W.B. Tilton Real Estate & Insurance Inc. He was born October 11, 1896 in New Hampshire, coming to the Jensen area in 1921, where he died in 1984.

Tressler Drive - (Stuart) - Harry Wesley Tressler, lived on the street which bears his name. He was born in 1900 and died in 1980.

Waaler Street (Stuart) - Named for Reidar Waaler, born 1894, a hero of the Great War who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery. Before retirement and moving to Rio, Waaler, besides other ventures, was a successful businessman with interests both in the U.S. and in Europe, especially Norway. He was vice president of Remington Rand Corp., as manager of the foreign offices in Europe for 15 years. While living in Martin County, Waaler acquired SPS, Stuart Paint and Supply and employed Larry Timon as manager. Reidar's share was later bought out by Timon. Waaler died in February 1979.

Wanda Yarboro Auditorium / Center for the Performing Arts (Stuart, MCHS) - Wanda H. Yarboro, born August 21, 1935, was an admired, respected teacher and principal, Martin County High School. She died November 27, 1994.

Warfield Blvd / Warfield Elementary School (Indiantown) - Named for S. Davies Warfield, born September 4, 1859, who constructed an extension of the Seaboard Air Line Railway from Coleman, Florida to West Palm Beach and laid plans to develop Indiantown. He had the Seminole Inn built in the 1920s, a grand hotel and restaurant. Warfield's niece was Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor. He died in October 1927, as the Florida Land Boom collapsed.

Warner Creek / Warner Drive (Rio) - Augustus Henry Warner, born in New York City in 1872, sold real estate in the metropolis, was also active in politics in NY, but eventually settled in Rio, Florida in 1904, where he organized the Rio Fish Company. In 1923, Warner partnered with A. D. Merwin in a real estate business and incorporated in 1925, with offices in Stuart and Fort Pierce. At one time Warner and Merwin Real Estate sold properties from a car until authorities insisted that a permanent office be used. A. H. (Gus) Warner died May 12, 1928. Warner Creek in Rio is named for Gus.

Willoughby Blvd. / Willoughby Creek (Stuart / Port Sewall) - Named for early 20th century aviation pioneer, Hugh L. Willoughby, a winter resident who lived on Sewall‘s Point. Willoughby was born in 1856 and died April 9, 1939 in Martin County, having witnessed the development of many of the world's greatest inventions, in some instances, actually being a part of it.

Wilson Memorial Park (Palm City) - Named in honor of Lance Corporal Justin Wilson, a fallen soldier who died in 2010 in Afghanistan.

Whiticar Way (Stuart) - Capt. A. A. (Add) Whiticar, who moved to Stuart in 1917 and the Whiticar family were noted for boat building & fishing fleets.

Witham Airfield (Stuart) - Paul Homer Witham, died in 1942, the first Stuart pilot killed during the war, for whom the airfield was named in February, 1943.

It seems there is really no official record documenting for whom the streets or roadways in Martin County have been named through the years. Therefore, some may not be known, other than possibly by memory of a few individuals. Certain names may be obvious, while others, perhaps not. As time goes by, any available or pertinent information may eventually be lost. A list of unresearched names follows:

8½x11" copies of all of the vignettes are available at the Stuart Heritage Museum

Alice L. Luckhardt is a freelance historical researcher and writer, member of the Board of Directors for the Stuart Heritage Museum and researcher for the Elliott and House of Refuge. Greg Luckhardt, a native of Stuart and 1967 MCHS grad, is a former science teacher, retired businessman and member of Stuart Heritage Museum. They are Martin County's Historic Preservationists for 2013.